10 Books That Will Change the Way You Think

Essential Readings Selected by Our Faculty

Pardee RAND Graduate School students aspire to lead change—whether by influencing decisionmakers, by
participating in critical policy debates, or as public policy leaders in their own right. We recently asked our
faculty, What books inspire you to train your sights on the most intractable problems of our time? To come up
with innovative, persuasive, and enduring solutions? To ensure that no matter the topic, the problem is well
formulated and the research approach is well designed and well executed?

Political Science

In this classic text, James Q. Wilson examines a range of U.S. bureaucracies—including the Army, FBI, CIA, FCC, and the Social Security Administration—and sheds light on what they do, why they operate the way they do, and how they might become more responsible and effective.

"For those who are concerned with efficiency in the public sector, this analysis is insightful, comprehensive, thoroughly engaging, and—more than two decades later—completely relevant."

— Professor Fabian Duarte, game theory

Mathematics

This book by one of the twentieth century's most prominent mathematicians approaches problem-solving in a way that sticks. What was originally a chapter in one of George Pólya's books became so popular that it was published separately and remains a standalone classic to this day.

"Pólya defines four principles in problem solving—(1) understand the problem; (2) devise a plan; (3) carry out the plan; and (4) review and extend the solution—a clear and compelling approach to all types of problems. These principles have stuck with me since I was a high school senior, and I highly recommend this to students at all levels."

Statistics

In the introduction, author Darrell Huff writes, "This book is a sort of primer in ways to use statistics to deceive. It may seem altogether too much like a manual for swindlers. Perhaps I can justify it in the manner of the retired burglar whose published reminiscences amounted to a graduate course in how to pick a lock and muffle a footfall: The crooks already know these tricks; honest men must learn them in self-defense."

"A classic. More quantitative in nature, but it gives Time Magazine-type illustrations of why you should never trust the media when they are presenting data."

Analytic Design

Some images are better than others. Edward Tufte's classic will help you convey your message with words, numbers, and pictures, and with clarity, precision, and efficiency.

"To be an effective policy analyst you have to be able to communicate the results of your research clearly and effectively. This book illustrates how statistical graphics can be the simplest, yet most powerful way to describe, explore, and communicate complex data. Tufte lays out the criteria for effective graphical displays and provides many examples to illustrate the key concepts."

Sociology

Duncan J. Watts demonstrates how commonsense reasoning and history mislead us into believing that we understand more about the world of human behavior than we do, and why attempts to predict, manage, or manipulate social and economic systems often go awry.

"It's a great look at how historical events often have commonsense explanations that are useless for policy development."

Politics/Current Events

Political dysfunction in the United States—putting political advantage ahead of good government—has reached a critical point, calling into question the country's ability to govern itself. Thomas E. Mann and Norman J. Ornstein caution that there is no magic panacea to fix a problem so complex, but they do discuss how greater public participation and some media reforms can help ease the gridlock.

"Mann and Ornstein provide a bipartisan approach to describing the problem of increasing extreme partisanship and its impact on public policy. They then offer up what they believe could be done and needs to be done to get the American political system back on track."

Political Science

According to translator Harvey C. Mansfield, Alexis De Tocqueville'sDemocracy in America is "at once the best book ever written on democracy and the best book ever written on America." This is essential reading for anyone interested in history, or emerging democracies.

"A wide worldview is essential for the policy analyst. This book remains an eye-opener."

Essays/Cultural Studies

In these six essays, delivered as part of the BBC's esteemed lecture series, Edward Said explores what it means to be an intellectual in the age of information.

"If you read only one book on this list, make it this slim volume. Said argues than an intellectual should be independent and an 'amateur' operating outside institutional structures. If you read this and buy Said's arguments, you will never ever buy into prepackaged thoughts. And never assume that famous people have the only interesting things to say. Often, the reverse is true."

Leadership

Hammond, Keeney, and Raiffa blend the art and science of decisionmaking into a straightforward approach to making difficult choices. This book will be of interest not only to students of policy analysis but also to anyone who makes business, personal, or family decisions—i.e., everyone.

"This book succeeds very well in its aim to provide a practical roadmap on how to think about and make hard decisions. It is an easy read with good examples of decisions many people face, but it slips in most of the concepts of decision theory. The authors are justly renowned for their expertise and their ability to communicate ideas clearly."

Contributing Faculty

Dean, Pardee RAND Graduate School

Susan L. Marquis is dean of the Frederick S. Pardee RAND Graduate School and is RAND's vice president for Emerging Policy Research and Methods. Prior to joining RAND, she held senior and executive positions in both the Office of the Secretary of Defense and the U.S. Navy.

Senior Policy Researcher

Lois M. Davis is a senior policy researcher at the RAND Corporation and a professor at the Pardee RAND Graduate School. Davis's recent policy research has focused on the intersection of public safety and public health. She currently is leading a National Institute of Justice study on the effect…

Senior Principal Researcher, RAND

Paul K. Davis is a senior principal researcher at the RAND Corporation and a professor of policy analysis at the Pardee RAND Graduate School. He has research interests that include strategic planning and methods for improving it, decisionmaking theory, counterterrorism, advanced methods of…

Senior Fellow

Natalie Crawford is a senior fellow and Distinguished Chair in Air and Space Policy at the RAND Corporation. She is also a professor at the Pardee RAND Graduate School. She has held a number of leadership positions within RAND Project Air Force, and was vice president and director from 1997 to…

Director, Population Health Program

Jeanne S. Ringel is a senior economist and director of the Population Health Program at the RAND Corporation, a professor at the Pardee RAND Graduate School, and an adjunct associate professor at the University of Southern California.

Senior Mathematician

Emmett Keeler is a senior mathematician at RAND, a professor at UCLA Public Health School and at the Pardee RAND Graduate School. He has conducted technical analyses for studies evaluating quality improvement interventions, insurance design, cost-effectiveness, and quality-of-care statistics.

Senior Behavioral and Social Scientist

David Kennedy is a senior social and behavioral scientist at the RAND Corporation. Kennedy is the co-director of the RAND Center for Qualitative and Mixed-Methods Research. He was trained as a medical anthropologist and has conducted research on the intersection of culture, social networks and…

Director, RAND Labor and Population

Krishna Kumar is a senior economist at the RAND Corporation and is the director of its Labor and Population unit, whose mission is to improve socio-economic wellbeing around the world through research and analysis. He also leads the Rosenfeld Program on Asian Development at the Pardee RAND…

Senior Economist

Frank Camm is a senior economist at the RAND Corporation, and a professor at the Pardee RAND Graduate School. His current work for the U.S. Air Force focuses on how to implement congressionally mandated capital planning and investment control (CPIC) policies for Air Force information technology…